Bluffton University
Bluffton, OH 45817-2104
About Bluffton University
Bluffton University is a private research university in Bluffton, Ohio, enrolling about 582 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 67.23% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,547 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Bluffton University charges 27% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($37,362).
- Versus the Ohio median, sticker tuition is about 2.5×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 52.94%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $49,547.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Bluffton University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 521% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluffton University | $37,362 | $19,943 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Ohio (state median) | $15,202 | $12,090 | 154 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 47% below published tuition at Bluffton University
Key findings
- Bluffton University's average net price ($19,943) is 47% below published tuition ($37,362).
- Bluffton University charges 27% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($37,362).
- Versus the Ohio median, sticker tuition is about 2.5×.
Bluffton University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $37,362
Finding Bluffton University charges 27% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $37,362. That is 27% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Ohio median ($15,202), sticker tuition is about 2.5×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.1×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Bluffton University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Bluffton University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Bluffton University is $19,943.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $19,943 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $7,854 above the Ohio median net price.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Bluffton University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 47% lower after grants and scholarships.
Bluffton University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Bluffton University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$37,362
Avg. net price
$19,943
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $16,363 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $16,689 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,469 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,233 |
| $110,001+ | $26,321 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $149,448. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Bluffton University is known for
Top program completions
- Education, General37
- Business Administration and Management, General21
- Elementary Education and Teaching14
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management14
- Accounting7
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 11% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 976
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Bluffton University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Bluffton University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Bluffton University.
Campus
Location
Bluffton, OH
City / state
- ZIP
- 45817-2104
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Great Lakes
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
582
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 624
- Graduate
- 63
- Full-time share
- 99%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$27,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 44.68%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Bluffton University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Bluffton University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Bluffton University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $28,504 | $28,504 | $21,353 |
| 2014 | $29,316 | $29,316 | $21,774 |
| 2015 | $30,168 | $30,168 | $21,160 |
| 2016 | $30,762 | $30,762 | $25,117 |
| 2017 | $31,672 | $31,672 | $24,452 |
| 2018 | $32,766 | $32,766 | $26,087 |
| 2019 | $33,736 | $33,736 | $26,069 |
| 2020 | $34,502 | $34,502 | $23,407 |
| 2021 | $34,502 | $34,502 | $23,721 |
| 2022 | $35,516 | $35,516 | $21,231 |
| 2023 | $36,298 | $36,298 | $17,430 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 976 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Bluffton University reported total enrollment of about 582 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 58% male and 42% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (62.5%), Black or African American (18.9%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (9.4%). About 44.68% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 32.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Bluffton University in 2024 is 582 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 624 students. Graduate enrollment is about 63 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
59.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
49.67% 100% Completion Time
52.94% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 49.67% of students graduating from Bluffton University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Education, General: 8% male / 92% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 62% male / 38% female
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 14% male / 86% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Bluffton University graduates earn a median of $49,547 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Bluffton University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $49,547. Median federal loan debt: $27,000. Average net price used in cost models: $19,943.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Bluffton University graduates report median earnings of $49,547 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Bluffton University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (29 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Bluffton University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Bluffton University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Bluffton University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$24.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Ohio median near the median ($24.2M)
- Great Lakes median 0.78× the median ($31.8M)
- U.S. median 0.94× the median ($26.4M)
- Ohio median 2.4× the median ($15,287)
- Great Lakes median 2.2× the median ($16,690)
- U.S. median 3.0× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 51.1%
- Ohio median 3.8 pp below median (54.9%)
- Great Lakes median 6.9 pp below median (58.1%)
- U.S. median 6.8 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $5,689
- Ohio median 0.76× the median ($7,463)
- Great Lakes median 0.71× the median ($8,046)
- U.S. median 0.75× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,125
- Ohio median 1.5× the median ($7,640)
- Great Lakes median 1.4× the median ($7,690)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Bluffton University at a glance
Bluffton University
Bluffton University is a private non-profit institution in Bluffton, OH, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Education, GeneralBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralElementary Education and Teaching
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian62.5%Black or African American18.9%Race/ethnicity unknown9.4%
Schools near Bluffton University
Other campuses in Bluffton, OH when available, plus nearby institutions in Ohio.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Ohio, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bluffton University located?
Bluffton University is located in Bluffton, OH.
What is Bluffton University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Bluffton University is 67.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,873 applicants and 1,757 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Bluffton University's tuition?
Bluffton University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $37,362 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $19,943 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Bluffton University cost?
Reported tuition is $37,362 and average net price is $19,943 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,220 annually.
Why is Bluffton University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Bluffton University, published tuition is $37,362 while average net price is $19,943—about 47% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Bluffton University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($19,943), completion (52.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($49,547). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Bluffton University?
Bluffton University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 624 students, White (62.5%), Black or African American (18.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Bluffton University?
About 32.7% of students at Bluffton University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Bluffton University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Bluffton University reports midpoint SAT about 976.
What do graduates of Bluffton University earn?
Median earnings are $41,940 six years after entry and $49,547 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Bluffton University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 52.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Bluffton University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.